OPERATIONS IN EAST TENNESSEE.; How Gen. Morgan Gained Possession of Cumberland Gap.

The following is an extract from a private letter of a National officer serving with the Union forces at Cumberland Gap in East Tennessee. It gives an idea of Gen. MORGAN'S mode of operation in the great feat of taking possession of Cumberland Gap, which heretofore has been but illy understood:

CUMBERLAND GAP, Tuesday, July 1, 1862.

My DEAR Q-----: You have doubtless heard that the Union troops are now in possession of Cumberland Gap, the strongest position in America, and that it was captured by Gen. MORGAN without the loss of a single man. To accomplish this most difficult deed, the National column -- estimated by the rebels at twenty thousand strong, though I, of course, can give you no estimate whatever -- made a circuitous march of ninety-five miles, over, around about, and through these tremendous and everlasting mountain ranges, instead of a direct march of fourteen miles from the position we had previously held north of the mountains at Cumberland Ford; that is, instead of attacking the enemy's stronghold in front, we turned his position from unexpected points, and he was compelled to evacuate the most formidable fortress on this continent, which he did without firing a gun. Six weeks before advancing across the mountains, Gen. MORGAN gave out, in a way by which it was sure to reach the rebels, that early in June he would receive a reinforcement of fifteen thousand men, when he would instantly force his way through Big Creek Gap, some thirty miles southwest of Cumberland Gap, and take the latter stronghold in the rear, while the enemy would also be attacked in front by an additional force of ten thousand men. Perhaps the rebels might not [???] the whole of this programme; but our adroit leader began to carry out parts of it, so that they finally came to believe it all.

Gen. MORGAN commenced threatening Big Creek Gap with a single brigade, so as to fix the enemy's attention at that place and to draw it from Rogers' Gap, through which, though considered absolutely impassable by artillery or by a large infantry force, Gen. MORGAN had determined to force his way across the mountains into the Valley. Gen. KIRBY SMITH' who is in command of the rebel troops in East Tennessee, several times attempted to surprise our small force at Big Creek Gap, but we were always advised of his approach by our scouts, who would fly over the mountains night and day. At length, by a rapid and simultaneous movement, all our forces were concentrated, and we advanced in two columns through both Rogers' and Big Creek Gap -- apart from each other about twenty miles, and which, as I said before, had always been considered impassable for artillery. The enemy fell into the trap, and believing our forces to he 30,000 strong, gave way before us, and afforded us an uninterrupted passage through both gaps. We had now performed the great feat of crossing all the Pine and Cumberland ranges of mountains, and were in a position where we could at once attack the enemy's stronghold in the rear, or advance by a short and easy march into the heart of East Tennessee.

Gen. MORGAN at once threatened the rebels at Knoxville, Cumberland Gap and Clinton. The enemy was bewildered, and divided his forces to defend each of the menaced points, while Gen. MORGAN concentrated ours again; and on the 18th of June, about 1 o'clock in the morning, we started out from Rogers' Gap upon the road which runs along the southern base of the Cumberland Mountains, and by a rapid march we reached Cumberland Gap about daylight, only! our hours after the enemy had evacuated, in despair of resisting us.

The result has completely demoralized the enemy's forces in East Tennessee, and we believe that we could then, or now take, or have taken possession of this whole section of country. We all expected to move forward at once, after capturing the Gap, to Knoxville, to seize that ancient capital of this State, and to hold the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad, over which, the rebels in Virginia obtain the greater part of their supplies of beef cattle, not to speak of salt. But we have been here for the past fortnight with our whole force, which, though not as strong as the enemy represents, is not at all contemptible in numbers. How long we are 10 lie here, none of us, of course, know. Gen. MORGAN, I know, is anxious to push forward; but it is said here that his orders from Washington [???] forbid him from making any movement whatever. [???] Brigade is composed in great part of East Tennessee exiles, and they are eager to get to their homes which the rebels are still ravishing; but though almost within sight of -- perhaps not the pearly gates of heaven -- but, at least, the doorsills of their loved homes -- they are not permitted to enter in.

I am astonished that this handsome and gallant strategical movement which we here consider one of the most important triumphs of the year, should have been so completely unnoticed throughout the country. I should judge from the few papers that occasionally reach us, that you in the East imagined Cumberland Gap to be still in possession of the rebels. We don't care about your newspapers praising we poor fellows, who are fighting the battles of the Union in these wild mountain regions, and amid the most tremendous difficulties; but we would, at least have you know that Cumberland Gap is ours. If our forces have not as yet done anything more, that, mind you, is not our fault. Like true soldiers, we obey Gen. MORGAN, who obeys Gen. Buell, who obeys our honest President, who commands us all.

[Our Gen. MORGAN [???] do not [???] him with the rebel [???] has seen real service in Mexico and under-[???] the nature of warfare in a wild and unsettled country like this; and no commander in our glorious Western [???] him for prompt and rapid movements in an [???]. We [???] hope that he will be allowed an opportunity to render his country the great service [???] is so able and anxious to accomplish, in the [???] of [???] Tennessee, now for so long at me given up to the tender mercies of the rebels. All his men are anxious to hear from him the [???] word, "[???]!"]

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A version of this archives appears in print on July 26, 1862, on Page 3 of the New York edition with the headline: OPERATIONS IN EAST TENNESSEE.; How Gen. Morgan Gained Possession of Cumberland Gap. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe